Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ dark heart ❯ Utter despiration ( Chapter 1 )

Dark Heart

Utter desperation

 

Erin yawned slightly as she walked towards her phone, picking it up, grumbling all the while. “Hello?” she asked, smiling as she recognized who had answered, “oh hello Andrew... yes... oh, I...I see... well, if you really feel that way then, I guess it's for the best... no, no, no I'm not sorry... Bye Andrew.” She solemnly put down the receiver, hugging herself with her arms. How many guys is that now? She thought, two? Three? Try twenty five. She could never get a guy to stick. At least this time she wasn't to blame. Sighing slightly, she picked up the receiver once more and called the one person she could think of, Shelby.

 

 

She stamped her foot impatiently as her friends phone rang, almost considering to slam down the receiver when she heard the tell tale click of someone answering. “Hello?” came Shelby's annoyed voice, “who is it?” Erin rolled her eyes, “who do you think? The tooth fairy?” she heard a loud groan at the other end. “Very funny Erin, now what's the matter?” Erin was quiet for a few minutes before answering, “Come over and I'll tell you.” Shelby groaned once again, “oh come on Erin, this is the only day I get off a week, can't it wait?”

 

 

Erin shook her head even though her friend couldn't see, pouting slightly, “no it can't wait! Please, please, please come over.” She begged. She didn't have to see Shelby to know that she was wincing. “ALLRIGHT damn it, you don't half pick your nights. I'll be right over. Just make sure you have some hot chocolate in that Chichiri mug ready. I swear, if this is something stupid I'll, I'll,” she stuttered trying to decide what she would do “You'll do what?” grinned Erin. Shelby's face broke into a smile that Erin could just about hear, “I'll destroy your whole fushigi yugi collection, that's what I'll do.” Erin blanched white, “you wouldn't dare!” she whispered. Shelby smirked down the phone, “your right I wouldn't besides, I know how depressed you'd get without your beloved Genroh.”

 

 

“He's not my beloved! he's not even real!” spluttered Erin, turning red. “That doesn't stop you wishing he were though,” countered Shelby. Erin stood there for a second, letting Shelby's words spin around her head. “Look are coming over or what,” she growled, a little more sharply than she originally meant. “Yea, yea I'm on my way over as we speak. Just make sure you have that hot chocolate ready.” At that the phone clicked off, leaving only an annoying buzz before Erin placed the phone back on the hook for the second time that night.

 

 

“I've got to stop being so damn picky all the time,” she muttered, wandering into the kitchen to make the hot chocolate, twisting her knee length black hair into a braid as she went. Erin was nineteen and living in her own apartment, something which seemed almost impossible to keep clean. She ambled lazily around the kitchen, digging around in a cupboard every now and then to search for the essential ingredients. At that moment the door rang, “knock, knock, `who's there', why it's only the bestest pal in the whole wide world come to help a friend in need, `why thank you! come on in', I think I will.” At that the door opened automatically with a grinning Shelby at the handle.

 

 

“You think you're so funny don't you?” groaned Erin, placing two cups down on the table, “that Koji routine is getting a bit old don't you think?” Shelby merely smiled and sat down at the small table staring hungrily at the hot chocolate in the Chichiri cup. “When are you gonna give me that mug?! She asked, reaching out an arm towards it, glaring when Erin pulled it out of reach, “never, if I gave it you, I wouldn't have anything to blackmail you with, now would I?” “Hey my mug, gimme, gimme, gimme!” Shelby whimpered. Erin merely sniggered and handed it over, shaking her head when Shelby began hugging it with a victory cheer.

 

 

“Your obsessed with that mug!” she laughed, picking up her own and sitting down opposite her friend. “It's not the mug I'm obsessed with; it's the person who's on it.” She stated, finally taking a sip, “so what's the matter? Why have you dragged me over here on the only day I get to have a night in, hmm?” Erin looked down at her mug sheepishly, “um... well... its kinda... it's about Andrew,” she muttered still staring at her mug. Shelby immediately spat out what she had just drunk, “WHAT!!! DON'T TELL ME YOU'VE BROKE UP ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!” she yelled. Erin looked unsurprised at how she reacted, “fine then, I won't.”

 

 

Shelby fell back into her chair with an exasperated sigh, “ok so what was it about this time? Was he too smelly? Too loud? What made you want to split up with him?” Erin mimicked her friend and fell back in her chair, her eyes fixed on the mug in her hands. “Nothing really,” she said after a few minutes, “he broke it off not me.” Shelby sighed once more and placed her face in her hands. By now she should really expect this, after all Erin went through at least two boyfriends a week.

 

 

“What are we gonna do with you, huh?” she whispered, still buried in her hands. Erin shrugged blankly and returned to her cup. It was part of her fushigi yugi collection. She had seven mugs like it, each with a different seishi on it. This particular one had a picture of Tasuki on it. Shelby looked up, seeing her friend staring at the picture on her mug. “And you say I'm obsessed!” she snorted, hardly able to hold back a laugh at the expression on her friends face.

 

 

Erin looked up in a daze, frowning as she saw the look of amusement on her friends face. “I'm not obsessed,” she whispered, “I just... he's just my favorite that's all.” Shelby gave her a `yeah right look' before turning her attention to the living room. “So, you got that picture ready for me?” Erin cocked her head sideways, “picture?” suddenly her eyes widened with understanding, “oh that picture, it arrived this morning. You wanna see?” Shelby eyes lit up instantly, “would I ever, I've been waiting six weeks for this.”

 

 

Smiling widely, Erin got up out of her chair and made her way into the living room with Shelby excitedly bobbing up and down in her wake. She made her way towards her two seater and dug her hand behind it, pulling out a huge paper parcel. With a meaning full look at Shelby, she cleared away the clutter of objects on her coffee table and placed the package there, gesturing towards the settee for her friend to take a seat.

 

Shelby took the hint and sat down, her eyes fixed only on what Erin was now pulling out of the brown paper. As the paper was pulled away, she could barely contain a gasp as the beautiful image of the picture immerged. “Oh Erin,” she gasped, scrambling off the seat to get a closer look, “its beautiful.” Erin smiled at her friend's reaction and turned back towards the picture, admiring the detail in the work, “amber really outdid herself in this one, didn't she?”

 

 

Shelby nodded weakly, tracing her hand over the intricate detail. It was a picture of Suzaku in both of his forms. At first all you see is him in his human guise, a tall handsome man in robes of dazzling crimson that is embroidered with gold. On his back, you could see his wings outspread with hundreds of perfect glossy feathers. Behind this figure was a background of roaring flames which were arranged in the shape of a magnificent phoenix.

 

 

“I guess this means you like it then,” laughed Erin as she watched her friend open and close like a fish. In the background her clock began to strike the time, instantly claiming her attention. “Oh my god, its midnight already!” she cried when her eyes fell on the clock. She turned towards Shelby, “it's too late to go out now, why don't you stay the night?” Shelby nodded, absent mindedly packing away the picture while Erin fetched a pile of quilts and pillows.

 

 

That picture was so life like, She thought as she settled down to sleep on the settee and bid Erin goodnight, the fire almost seemed to be really burning, how strange. In her room, Erin was laid on her back contemplating the same thing. Within minutes both girls were asleep, unaware of a pale crimson mist that was creeping over them with every breath they took.

______________________________________________________________ _________Where the hell are we? Thought Erin, her head whipping around, left and right when she found herself in a place that seemed to be bathed in a pinkish glow, am I dreaming?

“Yes you are,” answered a voice from behind. Both girls whipped around in the direction of the speaker, “who are you?” Shelby cried, straining to see into the darkened mist where the person seemed to be hiding, “show yourself!” a rye chuckled echoed around the empty plain as a man with blood red hair stepped forward, immense wings stretching out elegantly from both shoulders.

 

 

 

Their mouths fell open as they each recognized the person stood before her. “S... Suzaku?” he inclined his head, a soft smile lighting up his handsome face, “in the flesh, more or less.” Erin shook her head, falling none too gracefully onto her behind, this is not happening! She thought, now I definitely know I'm dreaming. The man laughed gently, “I think we have already discovered that, but as much as this denial is amusing, we need to get straight onto business.” Erin nodded, still not believing what was taking place

 

 

 

“Erin and Shelby” the god stated, his voice holding a grim tone, “the universe of the four Gods is once more in dire peril. A strange force of unknown has been sweeping over the land, devouring all light and leaving only darkness which not even fire can penetrate. People have been disappearing from there homes, seeming dragged away and demons have been on the rampage, praying mostly on children and the weak. What makes matters worse is that this force is growing more powerful each day, seemingly feeding off the light. Nothing is able to stop it; even we gods are powerless against it.”

 

 

 

Erin nodded, to show she understood then looked up frowning, “but what has all this got to do with me?” she asked. “Everything Erin,” exclaimed, Suzaku, “ a thousand years ago, a seer prophesized that when peace has been won twice in a space of four years, a final battle between good and evil will commence. Darkness will devour light and demons will plague the towns until the arrival two sorceresses, Loki, and Mirage.” He looked towards them expectantly; when they just cocked their heads sideways in a confused fashion he sighed and continued.

 

 

 

“It is said that they will be but nineteen years of age, Loki with long raven black hair that falls down to her knees and eyes of yellow like a wolf. The other, Mirage, has hair that is of the most elegant magenta and eyes of sparkling amethyst. Both girls have a kind of courage none but my beloved miko has ever shown. I assume you know whom I am speaking of?” Erin glared up at him at the use of sarcasm in his voice, “ha, ha very funny,” She drawled, not being at all amused, “so what if that's what Shelby and I look like, hundreds of other people look the same, well maybe not in the case of the eyes but in hair they do. And I'm pretty sure that I'm no sorceress. What's so special about me?”

 

 

 

Suzaku's hand went up to his forehead, “what's so special about you?” he repeated, sounding incredulous, “what's special about you is your heart. Unlike the many that, like you, have followed the story, you happen to be the only one who genuinely cared for the well being of those involved. I know, I watched you ever since you turned the first page of that book. I saw you cry at times of great sorrow, I also saw you laugh when times were easy. I know how your heart feels empty at the moment and how no matter what you do no relationship has ever stuck for longer than a week. You are truly unhappy; you may not show it but its there, as clear as the morning sun. There's no doubt that the prophesy refers to you both.”

 

 

 

The girls nervously bit their lip, “but, how do you know,” Shelby asked, fiddling with her red bangs, “how do you know that by choosing us to do this you won't be making matters worse.” Suzaku lowered his head, shaking it slightly, “I don't,” he whispered, looking up at her with gentle tears trickling down his cheek, “all I know is that you're our last chance. There's no one else who stands a chance against a foe like this. We need you. Please Mirage, Loki, for the sake of my world, aid us!” his eyes stared into hers, pleading her silently.

 

 

 

Erin shook her head, averting her gaze away from his face. He was desperate, she could tell that by his eyes, but there was no way they could pull this off, no way at all. She looked towards Shelby and could tell that she was thinking the same. “How does he expect us to pull off something like this?” she whispered to Erin, eyeing the hopeful god, “it's impossible, we don't have any magical powers like he said we have.”

 

Erin shook her head, her eyes also on Suzaku, “I agree, but we can't just turn him. If the world really is in as much danger as he says we must help.” Shelby bit her lip once more,, mulling the thought over in her head before turning towards Erin, “ok, who knows, maybe this is our chance to find out something we never knew about our selves, not to mention our only chance to meet a certain pair of seishi, if you know what I mean.” She nudged Erin in the ribs, “you tell him,” she said quietly, “you can word it better than me, besides, I want to wallow in the thought of seeing Chichiri at last.”

 

 

 

Giggling slightly, Erin turned to face the phoenix god, her eyes glittering with a certain hope that wasn't there before. We'll do it,” she announced, “I speak for Shelby as much as my self in this. We will both do what we can for your world, no matter how little that may be.” Suzaku's eyes sparkled with happiness as he scooped her up into a hug, “thank you!” he cried, whirling her around once before placing her back down and doing the same to Shelby, “you truly are the one to save us. Now listen, you have to wake up immediately. Time is dear; you have but ten minutes to gather together your necessities before you begin your journey to our world, use the time wisely.”

 

 

 

Shelby scowled up towards the god, “ten minutes? Being a bit stingy aren't we?” Suzaku rolled his eyes impatiently, “ten minutes is more than long enough, remember, the time is different in your world. An hour can pass here while a whole can pass in my world. Now pleas hurry, I'll be sending you directly to empress Houki's palace. Stay in doors at all times until I send the seishi to pick you up. Now go.” And with that, he unceremoniously pushed both girls back into consciousness.

 

 

 

Once awake, Erin and Shelby wasted no time in grabbing a large camping bag and darting through Erin's room's open door. Constantly checking her watch, Erin darted here and there, tossing random objects into the bag, muttering under her breath, “underwear...,” in that went, “CD player and CD's,” these went in as well. Shelby raced into the bathroom and wrenched open the cabinet door, dragging everything she could carry back towards the bag. After a moment of battling with zip, both girls stood at ready as a bright red light began to whirl itself around their bodies.

 

______________________________________________________________ __________

 

 

“They are both very beautiful,” thought Suzaku after talking with Erin, “I sincerely hope they truly are the ones we need.” He stood watching her for a little longer before taking off in search of empress Houki in order to alert her of the situation. He found her sat in a chair in her son's room, weeping uncontrollably. He glanced towards the cot and noticed to his horror that it was empty with the quilts wrenched aside.

Houki glanced up when she saw the light and bit back a gasp as her patron god walked towards her, his face creased with worry.

 

“Suzaku?” she whispered weakly, tears still streaking down her cheek, “thank goodness you're here.” Suzaku rushed forward to comfort her as the tears seemed to double. “What's the matter?” he asked kindly. Houki looked up at him, utter misery shining in her eyes, “IT TOOK BOUSHIN!” she wailed at the top of her lungs, “THE DARKNESS STOLE MY BABY AND THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO TO STOP IT. I'M SUCH A FAILURE.” Suzaku held her away for a moment as he surveyed her once flawless face, it was red and blotch from crying, with great stains of makeup trailing down her cheek. She looked a mess.

 

 

 

“Houki”, he soothed, wiping a tear from her face, “it is regrettable that your son was taken, but there is nothing we can do for him at the moment. Right now I need you to focus for me, I have an important job for you ok?” Houki nodded, her tears slowly subsiding although her eyes lingered on the empty bed. “Now listen to me carefully. A pair of girls will be arriving here from another world. Their names are Erin and Shelby. I have reason to believe these are the ones that legends say will save us all. I need you to do all you can to protect them until I can call Chichiri and...”

 

 

 

Houki's head darted up at that name, “Chichiri?” she whispered, “lord Chichiri was among the first to be taken when the darkness struck konan.” Suzaku stood up immediately, his wings spread as far as they could. “WHAT?” he cried, “how... how did this happen?” Houki looked at her feet, “demons were attacking on the east side. He, lord Tasuki and the noble bandits of reikaku headed straight for them along with half the konan army. Many were killed; those who weren't were either injured in some way or had been spirited away. Very few made it back in one piece.”

 

 

 

Suzaku stood still for a moment, letting the news flow over him. He had never felt so helpless in his whole life. I'm a god, he thought, why can't I do something? Why am I so useless? The truth was that he already knew. His power and that of his brother and the creator's was based solely on light, which was what the enemy feeds upon. Even if it was on a foundational level, without it the spells were merely words with no meaning for all the good it would do.

 

 

 

“What of Tasuki?” he asked, dreading the answer, “is he ok? Did he come back safely?” Houki nodded, “yes he's safe, maybe not exactly in one piece but alive at least.” Suzaku let out a sigh of relief, “thank the heavens,” he turned to the empress, his face serious once more. “The girls will be arriving very soon now. I trust you to keep them safe before I come back with Tasuki. Farewell for now.” And with that he disappeared with a haze of increasingly weak red light.

 

 

Houki stared at the spot where her god had disappeared for a moment before shouting for one of her servants. “Ayame!” a young girl wandered into the room, bowing respectfully before her empress, “yes your highness?” she asked quietly. “Ayame, I need you to alert the servants of the arrival of two young women. I also want you to prepare o room for them to stay in and place two guards at the door. Do you understand?” ordered Houki. Ayame bowed, “perfectly your majesty,” turning towards the direction she came to do her mistresses bidding.